Chilling consumer size food packages

ABSTRACT

A method of quickly lowering the temperature of a non-insulated consumer size prepackaged unfrozen food items comprising injecting a rapidly vaporizing coolant such as liquid nitrogen, carbon dioxide snow, liquid freons or the like, into a noninsulated consumer size package containing food, and thereafter closing the package, packing in suitable containers and storing in the usual manner such as in a freezer.

United States Patent Lundquist [54] CHILLING CONSUMER SIZE FOOD PACKAGES [72] Inventor: Burton R. Lundquist, 1461 Cloverdale, Highland Park, 111. 60035 [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1969 [21] Appl. N0.: 859,827

[52] US. Cl. ..62/60, 62/64, 99/1-98 [51] Int. Cl ..F25d 7/00 [58] Field of Search ..62/60, 62, 64, 384; 99/192,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Harvey et a1. ..62/372 Brown et a1. ..99/ 192 Rueckert ..62/372 X 1 Aug. 22, 1972 2,978,336 4/ 1961 Morrison ..99/192 3,138,935 6/1964 Morrison ..62/64 3,368,363 2/ 1968 Alaburda et al. ..'...62/64 3,468,135 9/1969 Doll et a1. ..62/384 X Primary ExaminerWilliam E. Wayner Attorney-Edward T. McCabe and W. C. Davis [5 7] ABSTRACT A method of quickly lowering the temperature of a non-insulated consumer size prepackaged unfrozen food items comprising injecting a rapidly vaporizing coolant such as liquid nitrogen, carbon dioxide snow, liquid freons or the like, into a non-insulated consumer size package containing food, and thereafter closing the package, packing in suitable containers and storing in the usual manner such as in a freezer.

10 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDauszz m2 3.685.308

! IA/ VE N TUE .EU/E mm A LUNDZJUIST ATTUHNE Y CHILLIN G CONSUMER SIZE FOOD PACKAGES This invention relates to an improved method of chilling consumer size prepackaged food items, and in particular, a method of rapidly chilling prepackaged food items by directly contacting the food with vaporizing coolants which are below about 20 to about 320 F. such as obtained with liquid nitrogen (320 F), carbon dioxide snow (1 10 F.), liquid freons (20 F.) and the like, after it has been introduced into the usual non-insulated consumer size carton.

I propose that after the food item has been packed in the usual non-insulated consumer type carton e.g. for further wrapping, shipping and display purposes, that a suitable coolant such as liquid nitrogen, carbon dioxide snow, liquid freons or the like be sprayed into the in terior of the carton and onto the unfrozen product contained therein, and that thereafter the carton be closed in the usual manner. I have found it preferable, when using end-loading cartons to introduce the coolant into both ends of the container before the end flaps are closed although it is understood that one or both end flaps may be closed prior to the injecting of the coolant. I have also found it desirable for the carton to have a special opening or openings available into which the spray nozzles may be easily introduced. In using cartons which are immediately sealed such as with a wax overlay, polyethylene coated on one or both sides or a heat-sealed plastic wrapper, it may be desirable to either delay the final sealing of the carton or to provide for a suitable vent to prevent the build up of gas pressure.

Previous methods of chilling either resulted in excessive shrink due to the evaporation of moisture, or involved the use of special equipment and/or excessive handling of the product. Slow chilling may permit the development of microorganisms which subsequently cause spoiling of the product.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for rapidly and efficiently reducing the temperature of packaged food items.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for rapidly cooling prepackaged non-insulated consumer size food products without requiring special equipment or excessive handling.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and claims.

I have illustrated my invention diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing wherein the FIGURE is diagrammatic view.

Like-parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and drawing.

A carton 1 is shown as a partially opened receptacle in which rapidly vaporizing coolant is being applied directly to its contents. At each end bottom flaps 2 are folded across pairs of inwardly turned side panels 4. An opening 3 located at the top center of each bottom flap 2 has a coolant nozzle 5 extending therethrough. The product (not shown) in the package may be exposed directly to the coolant or incased within a protective cover such as a plastic liner. After injection of the coolant into the carton, top flaps 6 are closed over bottom flaps 2 thereby forming a seal over the openings 3.

One of the top flaps 6 may be closed prior to injection of the coolant although best results are generally obtained by injecting a predetermined amount of coolant into both ends of the package. In practice the coolant may be injected into the package through a jet mounted in the pressure plate of a carton-closing machine. The package would generally be sealed and packed in a shipping container, both of which act as an insulator to provide maximum efficiency for the coolant. The end-openingpackage is merely illustrative of the various types of packages that may be used in practicing this invention, but such packages have been found particularly advantageous because they permit a modification of the present method is that carbon dioxide snow may be deposited directly on the product in a top loading carton. The primary advantage of this modification is that it permits lower gas pressures which make the handling and control of the gas somewhat easier.

The following examples of methods of operating are given for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, but they are not intended to be limiting on the scope thereof.

EXAMPLE 1 One pound of fully cooked green-link sausage was loaded into an end-loading non-insulated consumer size carton at a temperature of -l00 F. The carton was then moved into the carton-closing machine, the side panels were folded in, the bottom flaps of the carton were folded upward; and sufficient carbon dioxide snow (approximately -1 10 F.) was introduced through an opening in the bottom flaps to lower the temperature to substantially below ambient or to about 36 F., and thereafter the top end fiaps were folded downward and sealed. A predetermined number of non-insulated consumer size cartons were then packed into a shipping container and moved to a freezer. It was found that the average time for reducing the tempera ture to 36-40 was 5-10 minutes.

Heretofore the filled consumer size cartons are usually packed in shipping containers and are placed in a blast-clod air freezer. It takes an average of 12-16 hours to lower the temperature from 80l 10 F. to 36-40 F. During this period of time spoilage organisms can multiply and thereby reduce storage life.

EXAMPLE II Product was prepared in the same manner as Example l except the coolant was liquid nitrogen (approximately -320 F.) was sprayed into the package. The result was similar to that attained in Example 1.

EXAMPLE Ill Hot buttered peas incased in a plastic bag were treated in the same manner as Example 11 with the result the product was cooled to 10 F. in about 8 minutes.

injecting of a rapidly vaporizing coolant of below I about F. directly onto a unfrozen food product prepacked in a non-insulated consumer size carton, said coolant being injected through a nozzle opening provided in said carton, said coolant being of such an amount to cool the product to a temperature substantially below ambient.

sealing the carton, and

packing a predetermined number of said cartons into a shipping container whereby both the cartons and shipping container act as an insulator to provide maximum efficiency for the coolant.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is selected from the group of liquid freon, liquid nitrogen and carbon dioxide snow.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the coolant ranges form about 350 to about 20 F.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is liquid nitrogen.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is carbon dioxide snow.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is liquid freon.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the prepackaged food product is encased in a plastic bag. and the rapidly vaporizing coolant is brought into direct contact with said bag.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is injected simultaneously through nozzle openings provided in each end of the consumer size carton.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is injected through a nozzle opening in one end of the carton and the opposite end of the carton having been previously sealed.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the shipping container is stored in a freezer.

Patent NO. 3,685,308 Dated August 22, 1972 Inventor s) BURTON R It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The patent should show on its face that it is assigned to Swift 80 Company of Chicago, Illinois.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest-z EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM F'O-1OSO (10-69) USCOMM DC 6O376 p69 a u.s, covznumzm murmur; OFFICE: was o-ass-33A. 

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is selected from the group consisting of liquid freon, liquid nitrogen and carbon dioxide snow.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the coolant ranges from about 350* to about -20* F.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is liquid nitrogen.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is carbon dioxide snow.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is liquid freon.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the prepackaged food product is encased in a plastic bag and the rapidly vaporizing coolant is brought into direct contact with said bag.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is injected simultaneously through nozzle openings provided in each end of the consumer size carton.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the coolant is injected through a nozzle opening in one end of the carton and the opposite end of the carton having been previously sealed.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the shipping container is stored in a freezer. 